The Brandon Wheat Kings were less than 10 minutes away from heading home on even terms, Sunday in Calgary.

After watching leads of 2-0 and 3-1 evaporate into thin air, the Wheat Kings found a way to move ahead again on a power play goal from captain Keith Aulie.

Just under two minutes later, the Calgary Hitmen replied on a deflection from Ian Schultz to tie the score at 4-4.

The Hitmen got a goal from sniper Brett Sonne with 6:50 to go in the third period to take their only lead of the game en route to a 5-4 win.

Instead of being tied 1-1, the Wheat Kings find themselves in a 2-0 hole as the Western Hockey League's best-of-7 Eastern Conference final shifts to Westman Place for games tonight and tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.

"In a lot of respects, we had a winning effort," Wheat Kings head coach and general manager Kelly McCrimmon said yesterday from Brandon. "We just need to get a little more out of ourselves and play a little bit better in certain areas. Home ice is going to help us and we can build on a lot of the things we did in Game 2 and find a way to win Game 3."

Not being able to hold the lead was frustrating, but the Wheat Kings got a boost from knowing they did enough to jump ahead of a club that has essentially coasted through the playoffs so far.

"It was a very close game and a game that could have gone either way," said McCrimmon. "We did a lot of real good things to build the lead and play with the lead as long as we did. Obviously, we weren't good enough at some point in the game to hold the lead. That's what we'll look to address."

A day after Sunday's game, McCrimmon wasn't backing down from his belief that the goal that tied the game 4-4 shouldn't have counted.

"It was high-sticked by their player and it was just one of those calls," said McCrimmon.

NOTES: Wheat Kings forward Brayden Schenn had a goal and an assist on Sunday to extend his point streak to 10 consecutive games (eight goals, 18 points overall). The WHL's regular season champions, the Hitmen have won 10 consecutive games during the playoffs. Brandon product Alex Plante had two assists for the Hitmen on Sunday and now has three goals and six assists in 10 playoff games this spring. Winnipegger Michael Stone had a goal and an assist for the Hitmen and has two goals and seven assists.